Baltimore County Democratic State Senator Norman Stone reflects on the end of his last session after 52 years as a state legislator. Download This File

Balloons and confetti fell from the galleries onto the floor of the House and Senate at midnight. (WBAL's Robert Lang)

Delegates Sheila Hixson, Senator Ed DeGrange and Delegate Frank Turner discuss the film tax credit, during a late night meeting in the House Lounge. (WBAL's Robert Lang)

Baltimore County Delegate Dan Morhaim talks about the medical marijuana bill that passed. Download This File

House Majority Leader Kumar Barve was one of the House and Senate negotiators on the film tax credit bill. He explains why there was not deal on the bill before the session ended. Download This File

During a meeting in the House lounge, Delegate Frank Turner and Senator Ed DeGrange had this exchange on the film tax credit. Download This File

Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian Frosh talks about the failure of lawmakers to reach an agreement on bail reform. Download This File

House Speaker Mike Busch holds up a picture of veteran reporter Lou Davis. For the first time in 32 years, Davis missed covering the last day of the legislative session due to an illness. (WBAL's David Collins)

The 2014 Session of the Maryland General Assembly is history.

The Senate and House of Delegates adjourned at midnight, ending their annual 90-day session.

The one contentious moment occurred in the final half-hour of the session, where a House-Senate conference committee could not agree on legislation to increase the state's tax credit for film and television productions.

House negotiators insisted on keeping language to allow the state to collect tax money from some recipients, if they move their productions out of Maryland. Senate negotiators refused.

"You got the bill over there pass it out," Delegate Frank Turner said to Senator Ed DeGrange.

"For what," DeGrange replied.

"You did a good job running the clock out."

The bill leaves $15-million for the film tax credit program. The Senate wanted to increase it to $18.5-million over two years, without any conditions that the House wanted.

Lawmakers were responding to threats from the producers of the Netflix drama "House of Cards" who had been threatening to leave Maryland, if the tax credit wasn't raised.

Turner claimed that "House of Cards" producers would have accepted the House language.

The exchange took place in the House Lounge, as the House of Delegates was wrapping up its work for the year.

No Bail Reform

Lawmakers are leaving Annapolis without reforming the bail system, but they did agree to fund $10-million to provide attonreys for poor defendants at bail hearings.

Lawmakers needed to do something to address a Maryland Court of Appeals order, requiring the state to provide attorneys for poor defendants.

Governor Martin O'Malley is promising to sign an executive order to study the possibility of using an automated system to determine whether a person should be denied bails based on their criminal history.

The Senate did pass a bill establishing that system, but the House of Delegates never acted on it.

On the last day of the 2014 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, lawmakers in Maryland have passed the first increase in the minimum wage since 2006.

The House of Delegates this morning voted 87-47 to approve the bill to raise the minimum wage gradually, over a four year period to $10.10-an hour by July, 2018.

The bill also gives workers at state supported nonprofits who care for the disabled a 3.5% annual increase in their salary from 2016-2019.

All of the votes in favor of the bill came from Democrats, who believe this will help low wage workers, particularly women and minorities.

Most of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, who argue it hurts business.

On his Twitter page, Governor Martin O'Malley praised the House vote which occurred while he was in Bladensberg, attending an event on education with President Obama.

“The North Star of my administration has always been to strengthen and grow our middle class. Raising the minimum wage moves us forward," O'Malley said.

After weeks of the bill being stalled in committee, the Senate gave final approval to the bill on Saturday by a vote of 34-13.

CLICK HERE to hear some of the Senate floor debate on the minimum wage.

O'Malley to Sign Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

On this last day of the legislative session, lawmakers have approved a bill to reduce the penalties for possessing small amount of marijuana.

Without debate, the Senate voted 34-8 to approve an amended version of a bill that was approved by the Houseover the weekend.

Governor Martin O'Malley, who had opposed efforts to legalize marijuana, said he will sign this bill.

"Very few if any people in Maryland ever go to prison on a first or second time charge of possession of small amounts of marijuana," O'Malley told WBAL News.

"By signing this bill, we're making the law comport with the practical justice as it stands."

The bill reduces the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana from 90-days in jail and a $1,000 fine, to a civil fine starting at $100.

On Saturday, the House Judiciary Committee removed language that would have forced lawmakers to study the issue for two years, delaying a vote on the bill for at least two years.

Baltimore City Delegate Keiffer Mitchell and other members of the Legislative Black Caucus pushed for the changes.

The full House of Delegates approved the bill Saturday night by a vote of 78-55.

CLICK HERE to hear some of the House floor debate on the marijuana decriminalization bill.

Expanded Medical Marijuana Passes

The House and Senate have reached a final agreement on plans to make medical marijuana more widely available.

Both chambers passed a bill Monday that creates 15 licenses for growers. A medical marijuana commission will be allowed to issue more licenses after two years, if it's necessary to meet demand.

The House had originally planned to allow just 10 growers, but senators said keeping the number too low could foster a monopoly. A conference committee reached this compromise last week.

The adjusted version would allow patients to obtain medical marijuana from dispensaries all over the state, and it would let growers sell the drug directly. Patients would need recommendations from specially licensed doctors.

Sen. Jamie Raskin said Monday he considers it the best medical marijuana legislation in the country.

Jake's Law Passes

A measure to increase penalties for distracted driving that cause serious accidents has been passed by the Maryland General Assembly.Lawmakers gave the bill final approval Monday. It now goes to Gov. Martin O'Malley.

The measure would increase penalties for people who cause accidents resulting in death or serious injury while text messaging or using hand-held cellphones.

Offenders would face penalties of up to a year in jail and a fine of $5,000 under the bill.

The measure is known as Jake's Law after 5-year-old Jake Owen, who was killed in a crash in 2011.

Last Session For Some

Monday marked the last day in session for 42 delegates and 7 senators who are either retiring or running for other offices.

The terms for those lawmakers will expire in January.

They include Democratic Senator Brian Frosh, who is running for attorney general.

Two delegates, Democrat Heather Mizeur and Republican Ron George are running for governor.

Two delegates, Democrats Aisha Braveboy and Jon Cardin are running for attorney general.

The longest serving member of the legislature to retire this year is Baltimore County Democratic Senator Norman Stone, who is retiring after 52 years in the legislature. Stone served four years in the House of Delegates, before being elected to the Senate in 1966.

Stone told WBAL News he will miss the people in the legislature the most.

"You can't do something for 52 years and not miss the people," Stone said.

Stone says he will continue to practice law, once he retires from the legislature in January.

He's an attorney in the Peter Angelos law firm.

Pay Raise Battle Likely In Senate

Senate Republicans are making a last minute effort to force a debate and vote on the pay raise that is supposed to take effect next year for lawmakers.

Under state law, lawmakers accept the recommendation of an independent commission to set their salaries for the four year term starting in January, unless lawmakers petition to get the issue considered on the Senate or House floor.

The commission recommended a 16.7% pay raise over four years. It would mean that a lawmaker's salary would rise to more than $50,000-a year for what is considered a part-time job.

Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley says he needs to get 16 senators, or approximately one-third of the chamber, to sign a petition to force a vote on the pay hike.

Brinkley says all 12 Republicans have signed the petition, and he notes one Democrat has signed the petition, with the promising of getting three of his colleagues to sign the petition.

Brinkley says lawmakers owe it to the public to debate and vote on the pay raise.

A similar effort to force a vote failed last week in the House of Delegates.

O'Malley Thinking About Veto On Wind Turbine Moratorium

Gov. Martin O'Malley says he still has misgivings about a bill to set a 13-month moratorium on the development of tall wind turbines within 56 miles of the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River base in southern Maryland.

O'Malley wouldn't say Monday if he would veto legislation that has been sent to his desk. But the governor, who is a strong supporter of wind energy, says, "I have yet to conclude that windmills are quite the threat to Naval air radar that those advocating for this ban have concluded."

O'Malley says he's going to keep trying to understand where common ground can be reached.

Lawmakers have approved a delay to wait for a study on how wind turbines could affect radar use around the base.